SACRAMENTO, Calif —
An unusually cold May storm pushed through Northern California on Saturday.
The system had plenty of access to cold air thanks to its origins in the Gulf of Alaska. It was also able to access atmospheric river moisture. Many locations broke daily rain and snowfall records.
Valley rainfall totals generally ranged from about half an inch to an inch. Sacramento Executive received 0.57”, breaking the daily rainfall record. 17.60” of rain has fallen in Sacramento since Oct. 1, which is above the average of 17.16” to date. 1-2" fell in the foothills and Auburn received 1.40”. Redding, Stockton and Modesto also broke daily rainfall records on Saturday.
The high temperature in downtown Sacramento was only 58 degrees, which was the record coldest maximum temperature on May 4 in Sacramento history. The high temperature on Friday was 82 degrees, so that equates to a 24 degree drop in high temperature on Saturday compared to Friday.
Heavy snow fell across the Sierra on Saturday, forcing road closures, travel delays, and chain controls. Snow totals generally ranged from 1-2.5 feet above 5,000 feet.
May 4 was the snowiest day of the entire winter at the Central Sierra Snow Lab. 26.4” fell on Saturday, surpassing March 2 as the previous snowiest day. The snow lab is now at 387” this water year (since Oct. 1) and 157% of median snow water equivalent. Palisades Tahoe reached 26” as well.
Temperatures will remain on the chilly side for early May standards on Sunday and the forecast high in Sacramento is 65 degrees. Foothill temperatures will be in the 50s, and the Sierra will see highs only in the 30s and 40s on Sunday.
The main weather story this week will be a warming trend that will push temperatures near 90 by the end of the week. The Climate Prediction Center favors warmer than normal over the next two weeks.
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